Quail Hollow is a par-71, 7554-yard George W. Cobb track designed to identify the most deserving winner. It has earned its reputation as one of the most dangerous places in golf, and imposes a high standard of play from tee to green.
The rough is short, but thick enough that it will penalize inaccurate drives and iron play. The greens are slower, but still firm enough that speed and undulation won’t surrender victory to a hot putter. And perhaps the greatest challenge at Quail Hollow is fighting off the fear that comes with a reduced margin for error on so many holes.
Here are five things you need to know about the 17th version of Wells Fargo Championship.
Number 5
Fantasy Insider
The field includes 12 of the top 30 players in both the Official World Golf Rankings and FedExCup Playoff standings. Rory McIlroy returns as the only two-time Wells Fargo Championship winner (2010, 2015). In addition to McIlroy's two wins, he also has four top-10s and just one missed cut in eight starts.
Justin Rose has made seven starts here and recorded a top-5 finish in each of the last two starts (2014 and 2016). Phil Mickelson is back for his 16th visit still looking for that elusive first win. Mickelson owns 12 top-12 finishes in the event, including a T5 last year. And even with Tiger Woods withdrawing late last week, three of the last four Masters champions are also in the field (Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia, and Danny Willett).
Number 4
The Course
Quail Hollow is historically one of the top-10 toughest courses on the Tour schedule, and last year ranked as the fifth-toughest on Tour (even ahead of two major venues of Augusta National and Bellerive). Originally laid out by George Cobb in 1961, the course might be known most for its "Green Mile." This closing stretch of three closing holes is among the toughest on Tour.
Quail Hollow was the original site of the Kemper Open (1969-79), and later the World Seniors Invitational (1980-89) before the Tour made its return in 2003. It's undergone a series of improvements, most notably by Tom Fazio in 1997, 2003, and from 2014 to 2016 in preparation for the PGA Championship. The latest remodeling let the course show more of its teeth by removing several acres of pines, and re-introducing strategic hazards and risk-reward lines of play.
Number 3
Top Moments in Tournament History
In 2007 Rory Sabbatini was heard barking out exclamations, "I want Tiger. He's more beatable than ever." Sabbatini's cuckoo comments just might be directly responsible for the implementation of PGA drug testing one year later. And they were absolutely responsible for what happened on Sunday. Tiger went on to shoot a final round 69, Sabbatini shot a 74, and Woods won the Wachovia Championship for his 57th career Tour victory (13-under 275).
In 2010 the enormous potential of McIlroy took center stage for all the world to see as he shot a 16-under Saturday and Sunday to win the 2010 Quail Hollow Championship just two days before his 21st birthday. CBS golf analyst David Feherty summed it up best when he said, "One of the greatest finishes I've ever seen. Ever."
Number 2
How Long at Quail Hollow?
Wells Fargo and the PGA Tour announced a five-year extension of their partnership this week to keep the championship at Quail Hollow through 2024 (the tournament will move for one year to the TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm in suburban Washington in 2021 when the Presidents Cup comes to Quail Hollow).
But if the Wells Fargo continues to hold its current spot on the calendar (two weeks after the Masters and two weeks before the PGA Championship), there's a chance more top players like Woods won't play. This year's field isn't hurting for elite players, but there are fewer of the World top-25 in the field compared to last year. And there's a real concern that the new scheduling change will affect how and where players prepare for major tournaments.
Number 1
The Green Mile
Quail Hollow is a course you try to score on for the first 15 holes, then hold on for dear life on the final three. The diabolical 1,223 yard stretch nicknamed "The Green Mile" begins with the 506-yard par-4 16th hole. The tee shot narrows into a landing zone with bunkers on the right and water in play all along the left. Hitting the green is even more demanding, as the putting surface falls off quickly into water left and behind. A right greenside bunker is a tough up-and down.
The 223-yard par-3 No. 17 requires a forced carry over water to a green that slopes right to left. Like on No. 16, the green falls off into water left and behind. And the finishing 494-yard, par-4 18th hole calls for a draw off the tee and has to avoid a bunker on the right and creek meandering along the entire left side. Stepping onto the tee at No. 18 on Sunday with a one-shot lead is as nerve-racking as it gets. is.
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